{"id":47,"date":"2018-10-12T17:22:41","date_gmt":"2018-10-12T17:22:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.freestyleacademy.rocks\/~SydneyT\/?page_id=47"},"modified":"2020-05-01T22:28:49","modified_gmt":"2020-05-01T22:28:49","slug":"humor","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/freestyleacademy.rocks\/~SydneyT\/humor\/","title":{"rendered":"Humor"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Introduction<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The humor project was an assignment that challenged us to use comedy tools and find inspirations to create our own comedy routine, whether it was a stand-up routine, a sketch, or a speech. We did this project in order to understand the elements of humor. What I valued most from this project was being able to break down why things are funny to me, and try to apply them to my own project. As an Honors student, I also had to take what we had read in class and write a satire comparison essay. For my essay I chose to read an extra book, “Cat’s Cradle” by Kurt Vonnegut and compare it to the play “Rhinoceros” by Eugene Ionesco.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Humor Proposal<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Humorist Analysis<\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Both Conan O\u2019Brien and Daniel Sloss both use a lot of wit, irony, and jokes throughout all of their works. As a late night show host, Conan O\u2019Brien\u2019s content typically includes observational humor and a lot of banter with his guests. His comedy style can be described as \u201csmart\u201d, something that is widely loved by many viewers of his show. On the other hand, Daniel Sloss also has a very \u201csmart\u201d kind of humor, but plays it off with hyperbole and some blue humor. While Daniel Sloss and Conan O\u2019Brien may seem to be very different, O\u2019Brien being a late night show host while Sloss exclusively does stand-up, their styles of humor and some of their themes are very similar. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Daniel
Sloss in his show “Dark”<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

While Sloss is most famous for his show Jigsaw<\/em> being cited in over 157 divorces, I believe that his comedy special Dark<\/em> is a more accurate depiction of Sloss\u2019 style. Dark is aptly named after it\u2019s theme of dark or \u201cblack\u201d humor, which he uses to discuss political and social issues, as well as the purpose of comedy itself. For O\u2019Brien, his 2011 Dartmouth Commencement Speech is a great example of his style of humor, because he covers most of the aspects of his style throughout the speech. During these 23 minutes, O\u2019Brien covers topics from how the world isn\u2019t fair to how you will face fear and failure in the future. He does all of this while maintaining a light approach throughout the speech. This is the main similarity between Daniel Sloss and Conan O\u2019Brien. They both tend to focus on more serious themes in their comedy, to impart their ideas onto others while also maintaining a humorous and entertaining air. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both of their comedy styles work in these respective pieces because they are both able to diffuse anxiety throughout their sets. In Dark<\/em>, Sloss discusses how his sister has cerebral palsy, as laughs slowly simmer out. He combats this by pointing out that the audience isn\u2019t laughing anymore and assures them that he loves his sister. While this is a much more serious topic than what O\u2019Brien discusses, he uses the same tactic of diffusing anxiety when he is referring to the certainty of failure saying, \u201cI once sat where you sit. No literally, I came out here late last night and sat in every single one of these seats.\u201d  Diffusing anxiety \u201cwarms up\u201d the audience, and allows them to connect to the serious topics that you are talking about, because most people experience things like failure and funny moments with their siblings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Netflix
Sloss in his show “Dark”<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The main place where O\u2019Brien and Sloss differ is their intent with their comedy. While Sloss makes more traditional jokes as a stand up comic, his intent is to make people uncomfortable and laugh at the same time with his use of black humor. The subjects that Sloss talks about are extremely taboo, but he maintains the topic\u2019s seriousness while also respecting the views and opinions of others. O\u2019Brien\u2019s intent, especially in his Commencement Speech, is to make others laugh while delivering a more uplifting message and inspiring the graduates. While both of these intentions are fairly different, because they are focused around one central message or universal experiences, their jokes have longevity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although their comedic mediums are very different, both Daniel Sloss and Conan O\u2019Brien have very similar themes that they focus on throughout their jokes. They also both use the comedic techniques of wit, irony, jokes, and black humor throughout their work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For my own project, I want to write a commencement speech using similar techniques that Daniel Sloss and Conan O\u2019Brien use in their comedy. I think that their techniques of diffusing anxiety, a bit of black humor, and wit will work well together in order to create an effective Humor project. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Best
O’Brien giving his commencement speech to Dartmouth in 2011<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Some of the overall themes that I am thinking of discussing in my comedy are finding our purpose as well as looking toward the future. I think that these topics would work really well for me because I have been reading a lot of Kurt Vonnegut for Honors English and he talks a lot about humanism and truth. Because of these ideas I am becoming very familiar with the philosophies of humans needing to find their own purpose and how those philosophies look toward the future. These themes inspire me because I think that everyone, including myself, is in constant search for their purpose or constantly trying to make their own purpose. It is an idea that everyone can relate to, and the more relatable a topic is, the funnier it becomes. By using the shared experiences of many as a focal point for a joke, it will be easier to connect to the audience and make them laugh. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conan O\u2019Brien\u2019s intent in his commencement speech is most inspirational to me because I have similar intentions as he does when it comes to creating my humor project. While I do love the comedy that comes out of making others uncomfortable, I would rather deliver more lighthearted jokes that hold a strong message that will stick with my audience. This intent in my humor project will work especially well because I want to create my own commencement speech. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I think that for a commencement speech using some black humor is necessary because most people are uncertain about what will happen in the future, and what their personal future holds so making jokes about it might be able to ease some of the tension around the subject while also creating a message that will last with people for a long time. Speeches that I remember the most are funny and also impart wisdom upon people so I think that creating a speech about going into the future and finding our own purpose has a lot of potential to be really funny. In this sense, I am heavily inspired by Daniel Sloss\u2019 special Dark<\/em> because he uses black humor in a really effective way to discuss issues that people are scared to talk about, and you get something out of it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For opening a commencement speech and warming up the crowd, I think that using the skill of diffusing anxiety is absolutely essential, so that people you are speaking to know what kind of a speech it is going to be and it sets the tone and pace. For this, I want to use the techniques that Conan O\u2019Brien uses in his commencement speech, he introduces himself, the students, and the president of the school in a comedic way, without taking away any of the meaning of the event. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"John
Mulaney in his show “Kid Gorgeous”<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Another technique that I want to use that isn\u2019t a cornerstone of O\u2019Brien or Sloss\u2019 comedy style is anecdotes. I think that anecdotes are a perfect way to entertain an audience and make them laugh while you are revealing a deeper message. Creating a flow between comedic anecdotes is essential, and it is something that comedian John Mulaney does really well in his various stand-up specials. I take inspiration from his quick anecdotal stories that always draw laughs from his audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By combining the techniques of anecdotes, diffusing anxiety, and black humor, I can create a project that is comedic and delivers a message. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Project Description<\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

I will not be collaborating with others during this project. For my humor project I will write a commencement speech about finding purpose. I want to do this subject because I love watching stand-up routines that teach you something, and feel profound while also making you laugh. For my project I plan to use black humor, situational humor, satire, and wit. I want to use black humor because you don’t really talk about finding your purpose with your peers, making jokes about it doesn’t remove its weight. Situational humor could also work well because most people experience this kind of existentialism, so I want to joke about it a bit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I think that this is the right project for me because it focuses more heavily on what you write versus how you deliver. I don\u2019t think I\u2019m a very funny person, so I think being able to focus on making the writing funny rather than the delivery will work well for me. It will also give me a chance to improve upon my public speaking skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Script of Humor Project<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Here we are. At the end of the two year experience that is Freestyle. Welcome to everyone watching this. Students, Mr. Greco grading this, and the random person that got lost on the internet and somehow ended up here. I decided to write a commencement speech because I was feeling overly confident after writing my project proposal how I did many Freestyle projects. Started the day it was due, after watching Raccoon Toons for an hour waiting for divine inspiration, which I\u2019m sure we all do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Freestyle, we have been through so much together, and have had so many incredible things happen. Freestyle dances, late nights working on projects before exhibition, and what I look forward to the most, the EVO crashing. It\u2019s hard to find the words to describe what Freestyle is. Google describes it as a Communications Arts and Technology program dedicated to project-based learning through media production. But I think the spirit of Freestyle is best encapsulated by what my brother said when I put my name in the raffle. \u201cThat\u2019s where all the weird kids are\u201d. I can think of no better way to explain this motley crew than weird. We are weirdly creative, weirdly driven, and weirdly obsessed with singing \u201cI Want It That Way\u201d by The Backstreet Boys. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Freestyle has been a home away from home, a high school away from high school. Freestyle has taught us many things, how to film, how to animate, how to design, and how to row when there is no wind. Most importantly we have learned how to collaborate and how to fail spectacularly. We don\u2019t have a motto here, but if we did, I think it would be \u201cfailure, but make it fun\u201d. Freestyle has taught us to be unafraid of failure, to push our own limits, and to eventually come out successful. Our success and worth isn\u2019t defined by our ability to accomplish, it is defined by our ability to fail and try something new time and time again. And when we have a community supporting us, it makes it that much easier to get up. Another great thing about failing with others is you can always just blame them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not all of us here are pursuing the arts in the future. But it is undeniable the impact that these past two years involved in the arts have had on our lives. I\u2019m sure you don\u2019t know where you would be today without watching 57 videos on how to animate in 3D in After Effects. I know I don\u2019t. What I do know for sure is that as you go into the world to look for your purpose, you won\u2019t find it. Your purpose is something that you make for yourself. There are no deadlines, and this project is always changing, as you change with the world around you. This actually works really well for us because over the past two years all we\u2019ve done is hit deadlines. Imagine what we can do with no deadlines. The creation of your own purpose is what will make you unique, and although it may be terrifying, it is also freeing. You can choose what your motivations are, who you want to be, how to get there. So, I implore you to continue to be unafraid of failure, to dive head first into risks, because you don\u2019t know where it might take you. And lucky for us, Freestyle has given us the perfect skills to do just that. If you continue into the future with confidence and kindness, you will be an unstoppable force. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I thank you all for coming on this two year journey with me, for being the reason that I am excited for school and the reason that I am constantly stressed. You are more than a community to me, you are a family and I am so excited to see what you create in the future. And now, to wrap up our experience at Freestyle I will quote The Backstreet Boys: \u201cyou are my fire, the one desire, believe when I say, I want it that way.\u201d Thank you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Humor Video<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Here is how the speech was presented. I hope you enjoy :).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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